Improvement in wheels for vehicles



- 2E. S'WASEY. Wheels for vehicles.

I N'0. 155,598. Patented 0ct.6, 1874.

Fig.1

WITNESSQES. Edwin Swa 5 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

EDWIN swAsEY, oF MILFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT To JAMES A. PRENTIOE, GEORGE w. P ENTIOE, AND CHARLES P. NELSON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPRO VEMENT IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 155.598, dated October 6, 1874 application filed April 16,1874. c

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN SWASEY, of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Carriage- Wheels, of which the following is a specification:

These improvements relate to the construction of the hub of a wheel by the employment of an annular channel Whose 'walls are undercut or dovetailed, and uponwhose bottom is created a wedge-shaped annular spur or rib, the spoke or the tenon upon the larger end of the same being driven into the channel and split upon the rib, by which its sides are expanded and caused to tightly fill the channel, a bolt or rivet being subsequently driven through the walls of the channel and the spoke as an additional security and, sec ondly, these improvements relate to a novel method of confining the ends of the felly together, and securing the spoke to the telly by one and the same support, substantially as hereinafter explained.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Figure 1,'a vertical longitudinal section; Fig, 2, a horizontal section; Fig. 3, a transverse section 'of my invention. Fig. etis a horizontal section, showing the in vention applied to the felly-joint.

In these drawings, Arepresents the hub of my wheel as composed of one piece of castiron, the bearing or box for receiving the axle being shown at B. Upon or within the outer periphery of the hub A I create an annular encircling channel, 0, the walls D D of which are undercut or dovetailed, as represented, while upon the bottom of the channel is created a central wedge-Shapedannular collar or rib, E.- Theend of the spoke is driven into the channel 0, and down to the bottom thereof, the result being that the wedge E splits the spoke and presses its sides outward against the adjacent wall with great power, thus dovetailing it within and to the hub. For additional securityfI pass a bolt or rivet, F, through the wallsD and the spoke; but this may not, under all circumstances, be necessary or advisable.v The outer and smaller end a of each spoke is let into a socket, b, created in acylindrical metallic block, 0, the opposite end of such block being reduced to a thin plate or'tongue, 01, while between the two, and upon each sideof the tongue and parallel with it, are two concave lips, e, which receive or embrace the under side of the felly, and, in connection with the tongue, retain its two abutting ends firmly in place.

If the socketed clamp above described is to be employed to unite the spoke to the felly, a mortise, f, is made in the latter, of a size to receive the tongue d, and the latter is driven into it. With a chisel or other suitable tool,

one or more transverse incisions or cuts, g,

are now made in the tongue, which has the effect of expanding or spreading it within the mortise in the felly, and compelling it to hug tightly within such mortise.

When applied to the joint between the two ends of a felly or the segments of the same, a

mortise is made which extends into each end, 7

and the tongue is driven into and spread within it, the lips c embracing the inner sides of the felly, and serving to aid in confining them securely together, the socket b receiving the spoke, as before.

It will thus be seen that the metallic clamp, made as described, constitutes both a spokesocket and a telly-clasp in one casting, andmay be employed for one or both without change.

I aflix to the outer end of the hub, by screwthreads or otherwise, so as to be readily removed and applied, a metallic cap, h, which tightly closes theend of the axle and the nut upon the same, thus concealing these parts and preventing access of dust or dirt, and constituting a highly ornamental finish.

In conclusion, I would state that I do not claim, broadly, expanding the base of the spoke into an undercut or dovetailed channel or mortise in the huh. I am aware that this has been heretofore accomplished by means of wooden wedges inserted in slits in the ends of the spokes before they are driven into the mortises or channel; nor do I broadly claim expanding the end of the spoke-socket in the folly, for I am aware that this, also, has been done before.

purposes ing of the metallic block 0, having the tubular end b, tongue d, and lips e e, the tongue being let into a mortise in the felly and expanded therein, and the lips supporting or steadying the abutting ends of the felly, as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWIN SWASEY.

Witnesses:

WM. B. HALE, PERLEY P. FIELD.- 

